Reel assembly fastener



May 29, 1962 P. D. BECKER REEL ASSEMBLY FASTENER Filed Sept. 26, 1957 NEY.

R R R m A m 3% NW u M m United States Patent 3,036,793 REEL ASSEMBLY FASTENER Philip D. Becker, Hingham, Mass, assignor to United- Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 686,495 2 Claims. (Cl. 242-4186) This invention relates generally to reel assemblies and has particular reference to fasteners for attaching the side flanges to the spool.

It has been the common practice to construct reels for wire, cables or yarn of wood or fibre board with side flanges attached to the spool by the use of long threaded bolts, washers and nuts. This has proved impractical, due to a certain amount of unpreventable shrinkage of the spool with the result that the side flanges become separated by a gap from the spool. Furthermore, the projection of the nuts on the end flanges tends to interfere with the machinery during the machine winding and unwinding of the wire cable or yarn from the spool. A further disadvantage is the loss of space in the storage of the reels by the nuts projecting so that the side flanges may not be placed in abutting relation,

The object of this invention is to provide a reel assembly and fastening device for attachment to a smooth shaft and cooperating to exert a constant pressure on the sides of the reel allowing for take-up during the shrinkage period.

A further object of this invention is to provide a reel assembly with a fastening device which, when assembled, provides a substantially flush mounting.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of the reel assembly embodying the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view as seen from the right of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View in elevation of the fastener;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken on line 55 of FIG. 2 showing the fastener under compression and,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the fastener after take-up compensating for shrinkage of the spool.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a reel assembly 10, comprising side flanges 12, a spool 14, and a ratchet type fastener 16, adapted for non-removable mounting on the ends of transverse rods 18.

The fastener 16 comprises a hardened steel ratchet plate 20 having a dished flange 22, a central rod receiving opening 18 and a series of inclined rod engaging arms 24 formed from the base 26 of a barrel portion 28 which is drawn integral from the medial portion of the flange 22.

The arms 24 in this preferred embodiment are preferably formed by punching a series of substantially circular openings 30 about the central opening 18. The ends 32 are shaped to approximately conform to the shape of the rod, and by reason of the inclination of the arms, the lower edge 34 of the ends 30 is the portion which first engages the surface of the rod.

As shown in FIG. 5, the fastener 16, when assembled on the rod 18, has the under surface 36 of the dished flange 22 bearing against the outer face 38 of the side flanges 12 and due to its dished configuration exerts a constant pressure thereon.

Referring to FIG, 6, there is illustrated the position of 3,836,793 Patented May 29, 1962 the fastener in the assembly after shrinkage of the spool 14, showing the side flange 12 moved inwardly toward the spool due to the flexing of the dished flange 22 and the dished flange assuming a more concave form as the resistance to returning to its natural shape is reduced.

To assemble the reel, the side flanges 12 are placed in position at the ends of the spool 14 and the transverse rods 18 are passed through apertures in the side flanges and the reel and terminate substantially flush with the outer surface 38 of the side flange. The fastener 16 is then assembled under pressure over the transverse rod with the barrel portion 28 extending into an aperture 40 in the side flanges 12 with the dished flange 22 losing its concave characteristic due to the initial assembly pressure forcing it against the outer surface 38 of the side flanges 12.

It will then be seen that any tendency on the part of the spool 14 to shrink will be compensated for by the resilient action of the dished flange 22 bearing against the outer surface 38 of the side flanges 12 to force them into a constant abutting relationship with the spool 14.

Since certain other obvious modifications may be made in this device without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A reel assembly of the class described comprising in combination, a spool, side flanges seated against opposite ends of the spool, at least one fastening rod passing through the side flanges and spool, and a fastening device adjacent to one side flange and having a barrel portion setting into an opening in said side flange and receiving an end of said rod, yieldable arms as a part of said fastening device engaging said rod in a tight grip to hold the parts together in locked assembly and a dished yieldable flange on said barrel portion bearing upon said side flange under tension and cooperating with said yieldable arms to hold the said flange tightly against said spool in a constant take-up pressure to automatically overcome shrinkage and loosening in the reel assembly.

2. A reel assembly of the class described comprising, in combination, a spool, side flanges setting against opposite ends of the spool, at least one fastening rod passing through the side flanges and spool, and a fastening device adjacent to each flange, each fastening device having a barrel portion setting into an opening in each side flange and receiving an end of said rod, yieldable arms as a part of each fastening device engaging said rod in a tight grip to hold the parts together in locked assembly and a dished yieldable flange on each barrel portion bearing upon a side flange under tension and cooperating with said yieldable arms to hold the side flanges tightly against said spool in a constant take up pressure to automatically overcome shrinkage and loosening in the reel assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,309,613 Horton Jan. 26, 1943 2,386,732 Wohlhieter Oct. 9, 1945 2,568,584 Hartman Sept. 18, 1951 2,582,597 McCaskie Ian. 15, 1952 2,609,162 Howsam Sept. 2, 1952 2,689,146 Werner Sept. 14, 1954 2,754,717 Becker July 17, 1956 

